The following is what MMBA recommended prior to the release of the Act.
MMBA is currently analyzing the specifics of the Act and will release our position shortly.

The bill released by Senator Jon Tester and his staff combined wild landscapes in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Clearwater-Blackfoot and the Yaak roadless areas. This bill, if successful, will bring into law the first new Montana Wilderness in 25 long years.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan revision released in February 2009 included 320,000 acres of Wilderness and closed 360 +/- miles of trails by enforcing a new Forest Service philosophy that prohibits bicycles in Recommended Wilderness Areas. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership bill being considered will include more Wilderness acreage and affect more bicycle trails than the Forest Plan revision and permanently seal the fate of these trails.

The Montana Mountain Bike Alliance believes that elected county officials know what is best for their constituents and economies. MMBA supports new, socially responsible Wilderness as recommended in the 2009 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan revision with exceptions, but not limited to, suggestions by the Beaverhead County Commission that asks for the release of Garfield Mountain (Lima Peaks) from Recommended Wilderness status and for a reduction of 20,000 acres from the base of the Snow Crest Recommended Wilderness Area as supported by both the Madison and Beaverhead County Commissions. Our County officials are an essential link between the citizens of Montana and our state and federal representatives. County officials live in the affected locations, and are in touch with affected citizens. As such, no one can make better-informed judgments about local land decisions than these county commissioners.MMBA supports the County Commissions of Madison and Beaverhead Counties.

We as cyclists still have an opportunity to advocate for some adjustments to keep some important routes open. Your prompt letter writing could make the difference on whether we have ridden these gems for the last time or not. Speak now or forever hold your piece.

Letter writing tips

1. Be respectful and positive.2. Tell a personal story. Express how you value Montana's world class backcountry trails. Tell how far do you travel to explore new trails in the State - Pipestone, the Pioneers, The Tobacco Roots, The Lima Peaks... What kind of riding experiences do you seek and how do you spend money in the local economies when you do. Do you camp? Motels? Restaurants? Let them know that low impact bicyclists do belong in backcountry and we want to help protect our wild lands. Even if you have never ridden the great trails in the B-D NF, let them know that it is important that these remain open for the cycling community. In short - why do you love riding Montana's finest singletrack?3. Expess that you can support new Wilderness as recommended in the 2009 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan revision when traditional bicycle trails are protected through companion desiginations, boundary adjustments and non-Wilderness corridors and cherry stems. Let them know that mountain bikers are muscle-powered conservationists that want to see our wild landscapes and riding opportunities permanently protected. This bill will also provide stewardship logging opportunities for improved forest health and a lumber for the small town mills. Please voice your support for these timber jobs in our communities and conservation in the woods.4. Advocate for continued access to the trail priorities listed below. 5. Let them know that the Montana Mountain Bike Alliancehas been advocating for you and your trails.

MMBA's highest priorities - all these are of equal importance:

1. The Continental Divide Trail from Yellowstone Park to the Pintlar Wilderness including Trail #91, at Italian Peak & Trail #40, Little Sheep Creek at Lima Peaks - companion designations, boundary adjustments and corridors can be combined to to keep this trail a through route for bicycles in Garfield/Lima Peaks RWA, the Italian Peaks RWA and the West Big Hole.
2. Trail #315, near Ennis Lake - a companion designation or corridor would keep this 1.5 mile section openfor a 26 mile point to point ride.
3. Trail #313, along the Sapphire Divide - a boundary adjustment needed to keep open.
4. Trail #2, in the East Pioneer Range - a corridor or cherry stem needed to Tahepia Lake.
5. Trail #150, in the Tobacco Root Range - a cherry stem neededto the Lost Cabin Lake.
6. Trail #27, Monture Creek to #16 Falls Creek to Camp Pass in the Blackfoot Clearwater area - a small boundary adjustment is need to keep important loop rides open.

Because of increased email spam you must use an email form on the websites of Senator's Tester and Baucus, Congressman Rehberg and Governor Schweitzer to submit your letter. We suggest composing and saving your letter on a Word document and then pasting it into the web form for each of our elected officials. Yes it is a pain in the ass but this is YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY TODAY! So write a thoughtful, passionate letter and make sure it gets to these 4 elected officials ASAP. The members of the Montana Mountain Bike Alliance have worked their tails off for yourriding opportunities so it is now your turn to give back! Pay it forward.